Cauliflower Fried Rice - Super easy recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my cauliflower fried rice soggy? ›

Why is my cauliflower fried rice soggy? You don't want to cook the cauliflower too long, or it might end up too soft. All it takes is about three minutes to make it tender, but don't cook it much longer than that.

One additional step I like is to press any excess moisture from the rice by transferring the cauliflower rice to a large paper towel or absorbent dish towel and squeeze/press to remove any remaining water. This ensures no excess moisture remains, which can make your dish soggy.

To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

Substituting cauliflower rice for white rice is a great way to get more antioxidants while reducing calories and carbohydrates in order to save room for other nutrient dense foods.

The key to nonmushy cauliflower lies in how you cut it: Break apart the large head into smaller florets. Now take your knife, and starting at the stem end of the floret, slice about halfway down and snap apart.

Though you might not be able to pinpoint the sweet inclusion while digging into a take-out box and piling spoonsful of fluffy rice into your mouth, the addition of sugar is a common culinary technique practiced by restaurants.

Pick the Right Ingredients

There are three main ingredients of fried rice: eggs, vegetables and meat. Scrambled throughout the rice, eggs bring savory flavors and protein, while vegetables like broccoli, peas, carrots, and edamame add variety and depth to the dish. The more you have, the more robust the flavor.

While everyone's tolerance is different, too much cauliflower can create G.I. distress, like excess gas and bloating. “Make sure to drink enough water to move it through your system,” suggests Lincoln. Cooking it can also dial back digestion woes.

Cauliflower has several properties that may help with weight loss. First, it is low in calories with only 27 calories per cup (107 g), so you can eat a lot of it without significantly increasing your calorie intake ( 1 ). It can also serve as a low calorie substitute for high calorie foods, such as rice and flour.

Can diabetics eat cauliflower rice? ›

On the flip side, eating low glycaemic foods – including cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower rice - can curb blood sugar spikes, help control weight and lower the risk of diabetes. Riced cauliflower is an excellent low-carb, low-calorie alternative to rice.

The secret to giving cauliflower the perfect texture when battering and frying, is to not parboil it. When you fry cauliflower with batter, it also cooks the cauliflower. So if you parboil beforehand, you will end up with mushy cauliflower.

For folks following along at home: Use a towel or cheesecloth to squeeze out extra water of freshly grated cauliflower. If you're using frozen riced cauliflower, let it defrost or pop it in the microwave before wringing it out.

The key to making great cauliflower rice is to wring excess moisture from the cauliflower rice before cooking. That way, the “rice” can caramelize in places and yield major flavor bonus points.